Autopilots

The On-board Flight Computer (in the center of the lower panel) controls all autopilot functions, including the "stock" functions like "prograde", "retrograde", "killrot", and so on. If the flight computer is not operating for any reason, you will not be able to run any autopilot functions. There is also a backup FC Backup Display on the mid panel, so you can keep track of things while doing the actual flying. By clicking DISP and 1 on the keyboard of the lower panel, you will see the details of the currently running program if any in the FC Display. Alternatively and more conveniently you can also press "D" followed by "1" to get the same effect.

For stock autopilot functions, you can press on your usual key to load and engage the autopilot. You can also use a more complicated way using the autopilot's name in the flight computer (e.g.: "PRO202SPEC0" for the killrot function). See the list below for details on all the functions available through the programmed flight computer.

Four additional new autopilot modes have been included in the DeltaGliderIII release. The ASCENT, REENTRY, AUTOHOVER and AUTO-DESCENT. For these modes, there are now keyboard shortcuts and you are required to input the autopilot commands through the flight computer interface directory by keyboard or by clicking on the lower panel keyboard buttons.

The following autopilot functions are available via the flight computer:

PRO200SPEC0 Killrot - Kills vessel rotation
PRO200SPEC1 Prograde - Orients the vessel prograde
PRO200SPEC2 Retrograde - Orients the vessel retrograde
PRO200SPEC3 Normal - Orients the vessel normal to prograde path
PRO200SPEC4 Antinormal - Orients the vessel anti-normal to prograde path
PRO200SPEC5 Horizon level - Maintains the vessel's pitch and roll at 0°
PRO200SPEC6 Holdalt - Maintains the vessel's attitude as it was when the pilot was engaged
PRO104SPECx Re-entry autopilot (where "x" is your desired Angle of Attack; the default is "PRO104SPEC40")
PRO903SPECx Ascent autopilot (where "x" is the desired launch heading in deg; e.g.: PRO903SPEC42)
PRO200SPEC7 Auto-hover - Maintains level attitude and constant vertical speed (hover, climb or descend)
PRO200SPEC8 Auto-descent - Maintains proper rate of descent and performs a vertical hover landing at -1 m/s

Operating the autopilot
You must first LOAD an autopilot and then EXECUTE it. To do so, you can either click on the flight computer's keyboard with your mouse, or type on your real keyboard (for a full list of commands via your real keyboard, see the keyboard chart.

For example typing on your real keyboard: "P104S40" will translate to "Pro 104 Spec 40" and load the Re-entry autopilot; "P903S42" will load the Ascent autopilot with a launch heading of 42 degrees.

An example:

If you want to start from Cape Canaveral, headed for ISS, you can use the PRO903 function - it will bring you into 210km circular orbit with an Eccentricity of approx. 0.0004. For ISS, we can launch at 43° or 135°. This depends on whether the station is passing over your launch site from diagonally upwards (SE->NW) or diagonally downwards (NW->SE). If you load the scenario "Landed at KSC", the station passes upwards, so the SPEC should be 43°.

To engage the ascent autopilot in our example, follow this procedure:

1. Type on your real keyboard: CP903S43 (RETURN) (the "C" key ensures that a previous autopilot is unloaded and the display cleared for input), or load PRO903SPEC43 into the flight computer with your mouse and click "ENT".
2. Take off.
3. Engage the autopilot by pressing the "E" key on your real keyboard, or click "EXE" on the flight computer keypad.
4. When you see the message "ENGAGE turbo pump" in the right Status Display on your mid panel engage the turbo pump (it's on the lower panel - or press BACKSPACE).
5. Enjoy the ride.
6. The autopilot should perform Main Engine Cut-Off automatically as orbital Eccentricity approaches 0. For this scenario, that should take place at approximately 210km.

CAUTION: Do not press Num-5 (the killrot autopilot) or engage any other "stock" autopilot by keyboard before engaging the Ascent Autopilot. The "stock" autopilots will automatically unload the Ascent program and run their own and you will have to type the whole sequence in again. Fly the ship manually until you execute the Ascent autopilot.

The DGIII comes with the option of making custom Ascent Programs for the autopilot, so you can launch into different orbits, depending on need and/or planets. See the Appendix for further details on how to set up your own ascent profiles.

This autopilot mode is one of the many new features of the DGIII. The loading and executing procedure for this autopilot is the same as described above. The program name is PRO200SPEC7 (enter by keyboard or mouse). As you load and execute the program, the autopilot will take your current vertical (positive or negative) speed and maintain it. You can change the rate by pressing Num 2 and Num 8 to climb or descent respectively. Every press of the key changes the rate by 1 m/s.

Examples of use:

Takeoff: Use Auto-hover to perform a perfect and controlled vertical takeoff. Engage the autopilot, press Num 2 once and the vessel will start climbing at 1 m/s. You can of course use a higher rate of ascent if you're in a hurry. Once at a comfortable altitude reduce the rate (Num 2) to 0 and enjoy the view. You can then use the linear RCS to move laterally, for example to land at a neighboring pad. The linear UP and DOWN functions obviously won't work as they normally do, as the Num 2 and 8 key are reserved by autopilot function. You can also use rotational RCS and to turn the ship using yaw, or induce sideways motion by banking the ship. You can basically fly the DGIII like a helicopter in this mode, but be follow the following guidelines.

CAUTION: Be careful not to pitch or bank the ship too much as the Auto-hover autopilot will disengage after a certain roll or pitch angle has been exceeded and leave you stuck in that rather dire situation. :)

In-flight vessel-vessel docking: If you are feeling competent, try this for a fun challenge. Launch a DGIII and lift it to an altitude of about 500m and keep it there with 0 rate of climb. Then launch another DGIII and try to approach and dock it to the first DGIII.

Final Approach: If you decide to land the DGIII vertically instead of on the runway, or are landing at a site lacking atmosphere, you can use the Auto-hover mode to make your final approach easy and controllable. Assuming you are already flying in the direction of the landing site, you engage the Auto-hover mode, set the proper rate of descent, use linear RCS to cancel out the lateral motion and the RETRO engines to reduce your horizontal approach speed. Once you come in close vicinity to the landing pad, adjust your approach with linear RCS thrusters and once above the desired landing site, press Num 0 to activate the landing cycle, i.e. the Auto-Descent autopilot we will discuss next. You should make a soft landing at 1 m/s.

This another of the newest features of the DGIII. As mentioned before the Auto-Descent autopilot can be engaged in two ways. One is to press Num 0 while running the Auto-Hover mode the other is to use proper autopilot program, which is PRO200SPEC8. This autopilot will take into consideration your current altitude and adjust the descent rate accordingly. At a high altitude it will keep the maximum rate of descent and then gradually slow down to perform a perfect landing at -1 m/s. It can be used for strict vertical landings as well as short runway landings at a reduced horizontal speed, possibly below stall. Similarly to Auto-hover mode, you can adjust attitude and lateral velocity using proper RCS thrusters throughout the descent. The best use of this pilot is naturally, to use it as an extension of the Auto-hover mode, to perform the landing after you have adjusted the position and speed of the vessel. You can also use it to land on planetary bodies without atmosphere (e.g. Moon), since you don't have to worry about the vertical speed and instead concentrate on braking and targeting of the landing site (using the trajectory designator in the Surface HUG). Combining this two autopilots will make "right-on-the-money" landings a piece of cake.